One of the most innovative art-rock bands ever, King Crimson has been cited as a key influence by such diverse artists as Rush, Tool, Primus, Porcupine Tree, Bad Religion, Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain and Kanye West (whose 2010 song, “Power,” samples Crimson’s 1969 epic, “21st Century Schizoid Man”).

The band's past members range from Greg Lake of Emerson. Lake & Palmer and former Yes drummer Bill Bruford and now-deceased bassist Boz Burrell, who went on to co-found Bad Company. In addition to Crimson, singer-guitarist Adrian Belew has also memorably collaborated with Talking Heads, David Bowie and the late Frank Zappa.

With Crimson currently inactive, two of its longest serving members — Belew and bassist and Chapman Stick player Tony Levin — are touring with drummer Pat Mastelotto (a Crimson member since 1994) and four other musicians. The repertoire will mix new music with classic Crimson material, but — sadly — without the participation of guitarist and band mastermind Robert Fripp.

For the tour, which stops here Wednesday at the Belly Up, Belew and Levin will each perform with their latest respective trios. At the end of the night, they'll reunite with esrtwhile XTC drummer Pat Mastelotto for a grand finale of Crimson favorites that will feature all of the night's performers. Will the result be heady nostalgia or a new aural adventure? Our guess is a little (or a lot) of both.